307 pond turtles seized

The recovery was made during search of a Datsun pickup bearing registration No.

KG-5414 at check post of Deh Akro-II Wildlife Sanctuary.

A statement here on Sunday said that the turtles were packed in 20 jute bags.
Whereas, two offenders identified as Ghulam Rasool and Gull Muhammad were also arrested with the above mentioned pickup for committing the offence.

On the other hand, the main accused, turtles trapper and supplier belongs to Sangher District identified as Saddam Mallah alongwith driver of car Babu Zardari and Salam Zardari were also arrested with the case property.

The statement pointed out that Saeed Akhtar Baloch,Conservator Wildlife, informed that the accused Saddam Mallah is a first cousin of Sachey Dino Mallah who is already booked in FIR No.
20/494 of 2016 for turtle transportation from Sangher to Karachi in Toyota XLI bearing registration No. ACL-104.

Accused Saddam Mallah has also admitted that he is supplying turtles to some foreigners in Karachi for last seven months.

Dara Munir Qazi, Deputy Conservator Wildlife, Shaheed Benazirabad Division said that FIR is registered dated 29.09.2016 against all the 4 accused and the case alongwith case property was submitted to Judicial Magistrate, Taluka Daur, District Shaheed Benazirabad for summary trial.

According to a statement from the office of Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Climate Change Syed Rizwan Mehboob,the accused arrested were part of the same smuggling racket that was nabbed last month during their abortive attempt to smuggle turtles of rare specie.

Focal Person Rizwan Mehboob said his office was working in close liason with all authorities concerned.

He said that all these efforts for conservation of wildlife were being made in compliance with prime minister’s directives to stop illegal international wildlife trade from Pakistan.

Many civil society organizations working in the field of environment have applauded role of the Prime Minister as well as Sindh Wildlife Department in this regard.